Explosive engine



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2..

M. L. MERY..

. BXPLosIVE ENGINE.

No. 543,157. Patented July 23, 1.895.

fag /1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL LAWRENCE-MERY, OF CHICO, CALIFORNIA.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

sPEcIFIcATIoN forming pea ef Lettere Patent Ne. 543,157, dated July ee, `1895.

Application filed February '7, 1895.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL LAWRENCE MERY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chico, Butte county,'State of California, have invented an Improvement in Explosive Engines; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to the class of explosive engines,and particularly to those termed double-acting -that is, those which explode alternatelyin each end of the cylinder or explosionchamber connected therewith.

My invention consists in the novel details of construction, arrangement, and combination which I shall hereinafter fully describe and specically claim.

The object of my invention is to provide a double-acting explosive engine, simple in its construction of'parts, eftcient and accurate in its explosions, and capable of easy and perfeet adjustment.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of myinvention, Figure l is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a detail of the sparking device. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line a: of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a section on line yyof Fig. l. Fig.5 is a perspective view of the means for operating the sparking device and regulating the admission of the explosivemixture. Fig. 6 is a View of `the means for operating and regulating the exhaust-valves.

A is a cylinder in which is mounted and adapted to operate a suitable piston,of which B is the rod which operates through one end or head of the cylinder in a suitable stungbox, (represented by 0,) the details of construction of said stuing-box being unnecessary to describe further than to mention that both it and the cylinder shall be water-jacketed in the usual manner, or in any proper mannerl as is common and necessary with double-acting explosive engines.

0r mixture is effected automatically. With the Serial No. 537,648. (No model.)

ports which these valves control the gas-pipe F communicates, said pipe having'a suitable connection in which are fitted properly controlling-cocks f for the air and gas mixture.

The stems e ot inlet-valves E extend downwardly and are provided with springs e', whereby their return to their seats is insured.

Within each explosion-chamber is mounted the fixed electrode. G, which consists ot' a spring-strip mounted on edge and having its end bentataslightinclination,asshown. This electrode is mounted in a suitable manner in the explosion-chamber and is properly insulated therefrom in order to provide for the proper electrical connection. Being mounted on-edge, it is sufciently rigid to withstand any bending tendency due to gravity under any heat to which it may be subjected.

The movable electrode I-I within the explosion-chamber consists of a contact-point,

which is also bent atan inclination and overp laps the inclined end of the stationary electrode G, so that when the movable electrode H rises it passes in contact with the inclined on its other side, but does not on this downward movement produce a spark, for the reason that the battery-circuit is then broken, as I shall presently describe.

The movable electrode H has a stem h which extends downwardly and is adapted to be raised by means of the end of the 4rocking lever I coming in contact with it. The contact of this lever end and the stem h of the movable electrode is effected by means of an end piece t, which is secured to and electricallyinsulated from the lever I, said piece having a horizontally-slotted extremity, as shown at t', within which is seated across-pin h on the extremity ofthe stem h, whereby a sufficientlyfree connection is effected between the two to provide for the following adjustment,namely: The time of Contact between the lever I and the stem h may be varied and regulated by means of a set-screw t2 under the end t', and it may be set up or downto come rin contact with the end of the stem h sooner or later, as may bedesired.

In order to keep the stem hifrom twisting ICO or turning its lower end is fitted in a guide block h2, whichA is seated in the end z" of the lever I. Upon the block h2 is a contact-pin 7i3,which is adapted on the upward movement of the stem h to make electrical contact with a piece or spring h4, thereby completing the battery-circuit when said contact is made. It will therefore be seen that on the upward movement of the electrode H the battery-circuit will be closed by the contact of the pin h3 and the spring h4, and the spark will be effected by the separation of the two electrodes in ,the explosion-chamber. On the downward movement, however, the pin h3 drops instantly and rapidly away from the spring h4, so that the batterycircuit is opened and there is no spark generated, thus saving the battery strength as well as providing for but a single explosion, as required.

The stern h of the movable electrode Il in passing out through the wall of the explosionchamber is insulated therefrom by means of a sleeve h5, freely encircling the stem 71. and

fitted within the downwardly-extending hous-v ing or flange cl of the explosion-chamber wall, the two being separated by insulating material (represented by d) and held tightly together by means of a nut cl2 and a gland d3.

The lever I, by which the movable electrodes at each end are alternately operated, is a rocking one, being mounted by a central hub 3 u pon a pivotal shaft J, extending cross wise under the engine. The hub i3 has a downwardly-extending crank d4, with which a rod i5 is connected, said rod being operated by a suitable eccentric upon a counter-shaft of the engine, unnecessary hereinv to show. The position of the rocking lever I and its consequent effect upon the movable electrodes at each end, both in time and amount, is varied and regulated by means of an intervening eccentric-sleeve K, mounted and adapted to oscillate upon the pivot-shaft J, the hub 3 of the lever I being mounted upon said eccentric-sleeve K. Now it will be seen that by turning the eccentric-sleeve K to diierent positions the pivotal center of the lever I will be raised or lowered and its operation varied as desired.

The eccentric-sleeve may be operated by any suitable means, and I have here shown for the purpose what I deem the best meansnamely, an extension-arm la extending downwardly from the sleeve and having mounted in one side of it a spring-controlled latch-pin k', which is adapted to engage with any of a series of socketsjl in a collarj on the end of the pivotal shaft J.

On the other side of the cylinder and at each end thereof are the exhaust-chambers L, in which are mounted the exhaust-valves M. Each valve has adownwardly-extending stem m provided with a controlling-spring m', and these stems are operated by the contact of the ends of the rocking-leverN mounted upon which is attached a connecting-rod n', which is operated by an eccentric on the countershaft of the engine, unnecessary herein to show. The contact of the ends of the leverN with the stems m of the exhaust-valves M is alternate and is adjusted and regulated by means of set-screws n2.

To regulate or govern the engine by controlling the operation of its exhaust-valves M I have the following controlling or governing mechanism: Pivoted at o to the exhaustchamber walls is a pawl O, one for each exhaust-valve. The extremity of this pawl eX- tends into the passage-way of the stem m of the exhaust-valve, and in the normal position of the pawl it is out of engagement with said stem; but if the point of the pawl be lowered it is adapted to slip Linder and engage with a shoulder m3 on the stem m, thereby holding the valve Wideopen and checking the operation of the engine. This movement of the pawls is effected by means of oppositelyextending arms 0 of said pawls, the meeting extremities of which lie upon crank-pins p on an oscillating-disk P. This disk is mounted on a shaft p', the other extremity of which is provided with a pendulum p2, andl said shaft is journaled Within a sleeve n3 on the upper end of a crank n, which rises from the central hub of the rockinglever N. Now, when the speed of the engine increases, the vibration of the pendulum p2 is increased, thereby rocking the disk P and elevating its crankpins p, which has lthe effect of raising the handles 0 of the pawls O and thereby depressing said pawls and causing theml to come to engagement under the shoulders m3 of the valve-stems. As soon as the speed decreases and the vibration of the pendulum is reduced, the handles o will be lowered by their own weight and the pawls will move from their engagement with the valve-stems.

To regulate the admission of the charge of explosive mixture I have the following mechanism: Pivoted at q are the bell-crank levers Q, the extremity of the vertical arm of each of which is provided with a series of notches q removed, by their construction, t0 varying distances from the stems e ofthe inlet-valves E. The lower ends of the valve-stems e are provided with a nut or stop e2, and it will be seen that if the vertical arm of the lever Q be swung toward the valve-stem one or another of its notches q will be thrown in the path of the movement -of the nut c2 of the stem, 'and said stem will thereby be arrested at different points, according to the position of the particular notch of the series which engages the nut, and'thus the inlet-valve will be regulated and properly adjusted in its rise.

The bell-crank or elbow levers Q are operated automatically by the following mechanism: Upon a standard j?, risingfrom the collar j on the end of the pivotal shaft J, is

mounted in suitable slides therein (here shown as a dovetailed recess) a plate R, which has projecting from it a pin fr, which plays up and IIO down in a slot t7'3 in the standard 7'2. With this pin is connected a rod S, which may be supposed to extend to and to be raised and lowered by the operation of a suitable govern or, unneccessary herein to show. Upon the top of the plate R is an arm 1",which extends under and is adapted to come in contact with the ends of the horizontal arms of the bellcrank levers Q, said contact being an adjustable one by means of a screw q2. Asthe j speed of the governor increases, it is intended of the engine decreases the rod S is elevated and the plate Rlikewise rises, and its arm r', operating under the horizontal arms of levers Q, will withdraw their vertical arms and allow the valves E to work freely.

A great difficulty in explosive engines is the drawing back into the cylinder of the exhausted products of the explosion through the open exhaust -valves which are alternately held open. To remedy this and to provide for the indrawing through said valves of fresh air rather than of the products of explosion previously exhausted, I have provided the following construction: The exhaust-chambers L are connected by branches L, which join in a common exhaust L2. In these branches, opposite their point of junction with the pipe L2, I seat an inwardly-opening valve L3, controlling a port which communicates with the exterior air. I have found that upon holding the exhaust-valves open and thereby creating a back suction through them the fresh air will lift the valve L3 and will be drawn through the branches L into the cylinder with very little, if any, of the exhausted products of explosion. By this means I cleanse the cylinder and help to keep it cool.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an explosive engine, the sparking-apparatus, consisting of the xed electrode, mounted upon edge and having its outer extremity only bent to an inclination, and the movable electrode, also on edge and correspondingly inclined to the bent extremity of the xed electrode, whereby itis adapted to pass up and in contact with one side of the fixed electrode, and down on the opposite side.

2. In an explosive engine, the sparking apparatus, consisting of a xed electrode mounted upon edge and having its outer extremity opening it on the return movement compris- .means for closing the battery circuit on one movement of the movable electrode and opening it on the return movement, consisting of a contact on the stem of the movable elec# trode, and a fixed spring in the battery circuit, with which the contact makes and breaks electrical connection.

4. In a double acting explosive engine, a fixed and a movable electrode Within each explosion chamber, in combination with means for operating the movable electrodes alternately consisting of a pivoted rocking lever having its ends adapted to alternately come in contact with the ends of the movable electrode, and a means for regulating the rocking lever consisting of an eccentric sleeve on which said lever is pivoted.

5. In a double acting explosive engine, a fixed and a movable electrode Within each explosion chamber, in combination with means for operating the movable'electrodes,consisting of a pivoted rocking lever, having its ends adapted to alternately come in contact with the ends of the movable electrode, the eccentric sleeve on which said lever is pivoted and by which it is regulated, and the means for adjusting said sleeve consisting of its arm having the spring-controlled locking pin and the collar on the pivotal shaft having the sockets with which the pin engages.

6. In combination with the movable elec trodes of an explosive engine, said electrodes having projecting stems, a rocking lever having the end pieces with horizontal slots in which the ends of the electrode stems are secured, and the steadying blocks on said stems fitted in the ends of the rocking 1ever.

7. In combination with the movable electrodes of an explosive engine, said electrodes having projecting stems, a rocking leverhaving the end pieces with horizontal slots in which the ends of the electrode stems are adjustably secured by a cross pin, and the set screws for adjusting the contact of the lever with the stems of the movable electrodes.

8. In an explosive engine, the combination of the explosion chamber wall having a downwardly extending conical flange d, a conical sleeve fitting within said iiange, an-insula ting material between the sleeve and flange, a movable electrode having a stem passing through the sleeve, a nut d2 threaded on the lower portion of the sleeve and bearing'up under theflange and a gland engaging said sleeve, substantially as herein described.

IOO

IIO

ISO

9. In an explosive engine and in combination with a valve therein having a stem, a pawl for engaging said stern to regulate the operation of the valve, and a means dependent upon the speed of the engine for operating the pawl, consisting of a rocking arm, a shaft pivoted in said arm and having a pendulum upon one end and a disk upon the other end, said disk having a pin upon which the handle of the pawl rests.

l0. In an explosive engine, the exhaust valves thereof, having reciprocating stems, with shoulders, in combination with pivoted pawls adapted to make and break engagement With said shoulders for holding open and relieving the valves, and a means, vdependent upouthe speedv of the engine for operating said paWls, consisting of a rocking lever by which the valves are normally operated, an arm rising from said lever, a shaft pivoted in the upper end of the arm and having a pendulum upon one end and a disk upon the other end of said shaft having a pin upon which the handles of the governing pawls rest.

ll. In an explosive engine, the inlet valves thereof, in combination With the means for controlling them to regulate the charge admitted, consisting of the pivoted bell crank levers having the series of notches adapted to be thrown in the path of movement of the Valve stems to limit said movement at different distances, and means, comprising a vertically movable device operated by a governor and an extension from the device to operate the lever, dependent upon the speed of the engine forswingiug said bellcrank levers.

12. In an explosive engine, the inlet valves thereof, in combination With the means for controlling them to regulate the charge admitted, consisting of the pivoted bell crank levers having the series of notches adapted to be thrown in the path of movement of the valve stems to limit said movement at different distances, and means, dependent upon the speed of the engine for swinging said bell crank levers, consisting of a vertically movable plate adapted to be operated by a suitable governor, and an arm upon said plate adapted to operate under the arms of the bell crank levers.

13. In an explosive engine, the branches from the exhaust chambers thereof, uniting in a common exhaust pipe and the inwardly opening valve in said branches whereby fresh air is drawn into the engine when the exhaust valves are opened.

lll. In an explosive engine andin combination With its exhaust valve and exhaust pipe, an inwardly opening valve in said pipe beyond the exhaust valve through which fresh air may be drawn into the cylinder through the open exhaust valve.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MICHAEL LAWRENCE MERY.

lVitnesses:

F. C. WILLIAMS, H. WV. CHARLES. 

